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The Mission of Letty 



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WALTER rTBT^^HER 5:CQ. 
BOSTON 



^fefefites^?^^^ 




COPYRIGHT. 1889, BY WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 



B. lU^ Pinero's Plays 

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No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



The Mission of Letty 

A Play in Two Acts 

For Female Characters Only 



By 
EVELYN WATSON 



BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 

1914 



The Mission of Letty 



CHARACTERS 



Miss Veronica Morton. 

Miss Dorothea Morton, her sister. 

Barbara, their maid of all work. 

Letty Ballsley, an orphan, distant cousin of the Mortons. 

Mrs. Grey, a minister s wife. 

Marybell Sharpe 

Babe McGiLL }. girls of the neighborhood. 

Catherine Pemberton 



IXJtJC. 



Time.— To-day. 

Scene.— The little town of Fairdale. 




Copyright, 191 3, by Walter H. Baker & Co. 



'^ TMPS2-007535 



§)CID 35269 



The Mission of Letty 



ACT I 

SCENE. — Curtain rises discover i7ig living-roo7n of the Morto?i 
home. On the right at the back, a door leading to the front 
hall. On the left at the back, a door leading to the difiing- 
room. Table, chairs, a?id writing-desk, etc. 

Enter at opposite doors, Miss Veronica Morton and Miss 
Dorothea Morton. 

Miss D. (seeing her sister). Oh ! \_Exit hastily. 

Miss V. (at same time). Excuse me ! 

(Hastily goes out other door. After a pause, both cau- 
tiously reenter.) 

Miss D. I beg your pardon. I only want to get my book. 
Miss' V. (haughtily). I shall not intrude but a moment. 
Miss D. (also haughty). I really don't care to remain. — 



I- 

Miss V. Oh, if you were here first {Enter Barbara, 

bucket of water in one hand, and dripping cloth i?t the other. 
As they perceive her, both forget quarrel and frown at her. ) 
Barbara ! — how many times have we told you not to carry 
your buckets through this room ! You will ruin the carpet. 

Miss D. Yes, Barbara, do try to remember ! 

Miss V. What's that in your other hand ? 

Bar. (holding it out). Scroob-cloth, ma'am. 

Miss D. Oh, Barbara ! — and dripping wet. 

Bar. Sure, Miss Dorthee, I'll niver bring it through agin. 
Drat me if 

Miss V. Barbara ! — that atrocious word again ! 

Bar. Sure, Miss Veronicky, I niver mint to say it. 

Miss D. What are you going to do ? 



4 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Bar. Scroob the vestibool, ma'am. 
Miss V. The idea of coming through the parlor ! 
Miss D. Do take that dripping cloth out of here ! You 
are spoiling everything. 

Miss V. {to Bar.). Hurry, hurry! 

Bar. Yis'm, yis'm, I'm goin'. [^Exit. 

Miss D. {sight fig). Isn't she awful? 

Miss V. Hopeless ! 

{Pause. They remember they are angry at each other.) 

Miss D. Ahem ! Did you wish to stay in here ? 

Miss V. Oh, no, not if I intrude on your privacy. 

Miss D. Indeed, sister Veronica, I always like to have you 
with me, if 

Miss V. If what, sister Dorothea ? 

Miss D. If — if — only I do not displease you. 

Miss V. By doing something I have especially asked you 
not to do? 

Miss D, But, Veronica dear, I think it is my duty. 

Miss V. Oh, of course, Dorothea, if it is your duty — then 
there is nothing more to be said about it. But you can 
scarcely expect me to look pleased. 

Enter Bar. with a letter. 

Miss D. Oh, has the postman been here ? 

Miss V. Barbara, why did you not dry your hands ? Just 
see how you have soiled this envelope ! 

Bar. {sorrowfully). Yis'm. 

Miss V. {looking at efwelope). Why, this is Wednesday. 
We never get a letter on Wednesday ! 

Miss D. Of course not. It must be a mistake. There is 
no one to write on Wednesday ! 

Bar. Misther Darlin' said as it wuz for the Misses Morton, 
ma'am. 

Miss D. The Misses Morton ! — Who could write to the 
Misses Morton ! 

Miss D. Who indeed ? 

Miss V. That is the way it is addressed. But I don't 
recognize the writing, do you, Dorothea ? 

Miss D. No. It is not a familiar hand. 

Miss V. The postmark is Coltsville. 

Miss D. Coltsville ! Is it Coltsville ?— It can't be from 
Cousin Richard? 



THE MISSION OF LETTY r 

Miss V. Did he go to Coltsville ? 

Miss D. I am sure that was the name of the place. But 
this isn't his writing. 

Bar. {tmeasily), Shure, an' beant ye a-going to open the 
letter and find out, ma'am ? 

Miss V. Pray go about your work, Barbara. This is a 
private matter between Miss Dorothea and myself. 

Bar. {unabashed). I hope it's good news, ma'am. 

Miss D. Thank you, Barbara — you mean well ! 

Miss V. Yes, Barbara, but your scrubbing is waiting. 

Bar. Well now, if that isn't God's truth, ma'am ' 

Miss D. Barbara ! {Exit Bar. Miss D. leans over and 
looks at letter.) Do you think we ought to open it ? 

Miss V. We must find out if it is for us. 

Miss D. If it only were not Wednesday, I should not feel 
so timid. 

Miss V. We never get a letter on Wednesday. 

Miss D. It is a woman's writing. Who can it be? 

Miss V. We are the only Misses Morton. 

Miss D. The only ones ! 

Miss V. I suppose we must open it. 

Miss D. {sighing). There is no other way ! 

(Miss V. cautiously breaks the seal.) 

Miss V. {reading). " To the Misses Morton, The Dove- 
cote, Fairdale." That surely means us ! 

Miss D. There can be no doubt of it. 

Miss V. {reading). ''I am writing for your cousin, Mr. 
Kichard Ballsley, who died here three days ago after a very 
short and painful illness." 

Miss D. (huskily). Dead !— Cousin Richard dead ! 

Miss V. How dreadful ! (Continues reading.) "When 
the doctor told him he could not live, he asked me as an old 
friend to write to you and ask if you would not take his dear 
little girl Letty into your home and brine: her up as vour own " 

Miss D. Oh, Veronica ! ^ f j ■ 

Miss V. Dorothea, my dear ! 

Miss D. How terrible ! 

Miss V. How could he ask it ! 

Miss D. His child ! 

Miss V. An utterly strange child ! 

Miss D. What— what else does the letter say? 



5 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Miss V. {reading). '' She is a lovely little thing, ten years 

old." 

Miss D. Can it be that long ago? 

Miss V. '' And though she has now no money of her own, 
she will come into a snug fortune left her by an uncle, when 
-he is of age. Mr. Ballsley spoke of you as ladies of high 
principles, such as he would like his child to know and live 
with. Little Letty is with me. I only wish I might keep her, 
for she is like a ray of sunshine in the house. Kindly let me 
hear from you as soon as possible. Very truly yours, Anna 
Bervvyn Grey." 

Miss D. Oh, Veronica, what shall we do ! 

Miss V. We can't possibly take her ! 

Miss D. (faintly). I— I suppose not ! 

Miss V. We should never be able to call our souls our own 
again. 

Miss D. Poor little thing ! ^ ^ • i.. 

Miss V. She would scratch up the furniture, and frighten 

the birds. 

Miss D. And yet— the poor little child ! 

Miss V. Yes. But we are only cousins. There can be no 
claim upon cousins ! 

Miss D. There must be some nearer relative, I suppose. 

Miss V. We simply cannot take her. I wonder at Richard 
asking such a thing of us under the circumstances. It's pre- 
posterous—inhuman 1 That woman's child ! 

Miss D. Wouldn't the woman who wrote the letter keep 
her ? What does she say ? , , • , 

Miss V. She says she wishes she might keep her— which 
means she can't. 

Miss D. Perhaps she is too poor. 

Miss V. We could pay her. Anything would be better 
than to have a strange child in the house. {Enter Bar. with 
bucket.) Barbara ! 

Miss D. That bucket ! 

Miss V. Go through the hallway ! 

Bar. The saints furgive me, ma'am ! I clean furgot agm ! 



{Drops rag.) 

The scrub cl< 
Take care fo 

(Bar. scrambles around and fifially exits.) 



Miss D. Oh, look ! The scrub cloth ! 

Miss V. Pick it up. Take care for the bucket ! 



THE MISSION OF LKTTY 7 

Miss D, {gaspi7tg). I don't think we can stand her ! 

Miss V. We must. It is our duty to teach her to be a 
Christian woman. 

Miss D. I suppose it is, sister Veronica, but she wears on 
my nerves so. 

Miss V. Then imagine what a child would do, romping 
about the house, laughing and screaming. 

Miss D. How old did she say the little girl was ? 

Miss V. Ten years old. Yes— ten. Just Marybell 
Sharpe's age. And you know what Marybell is ! She tracked 
the whole parlor full of mud the day she was here. 

Miss D. And her voice ! So loud and coarse ! 

MissV. It is almost impossible to subdue children of that 
age. They are little savages. 

Miss D. We — we must find some way out of it, I suppose. 
{Sighs.) 

Miss V. I had better write to the woman. What's her 
name? Oh, yes. Anna Berwyn Grey. I'll write to Anna 
Berwyn Grey and tell her that we will pay for the child's board, 
and 

Miss D. Clothes. She would have to have clothes, Ve- 
ronica. 

Miss V. Well then, clothes. I would give anything rather 
than have a great rollicking tomboy around the house. 

Miss D. We could make the dresses. 

Miss V. We must preserve the quiet of our home from this 
invasion. 

Miss D. They may be getting her ready. It would be 
dreadful to disappoint them. 

Miss V. That is true, Dorothea. It would be wise to write 
at once. {Goes to drawer and gets writing-paper,) Now, 
what shall we ^2^ ? 

Miss D. Is she a married lady ? 

Miss V. {looking at letter). She does not say. Anna Ber- 
wyn Grey. But of course she must be. She was with Richard 
when he was dying. 

Miss D. Oh, then, of course ! 

Miss V. Then I imagine I should address her as Mrs. 
Grey. 

Miss D. But suppose she shouldn't be married. 
Miss V. She must be. If slie isn't she ought to be. 
Miss D. She certainly ought. 



g THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Miss V. Very well then, sister Dorothea, if she ought to be, 
then as far as we aie concerned, she is married. 

Miss D. Of course she must be. 

Miss V. Then it is settled. {lVn7es.) '* My dear Mrs. 
Grey : — Your kind letter concerning the disposal of our Cousin 
Richard's child is before us. We thank you so much for writ- 
ing to us, but 

Miss D. Well, what are you going to say next ? 

Miss V. We must not be too abrupt. It might look 
unkind. 

Miss D. Oh, no, we do not want to seem that ! 

Miss V. Well {thbiking a mofnefit)^ how would this do? — 
*' but we feel that our house would be no place for a little girl 
who is accustomed to the companionship of children." 

Miss D. I think that is very tactful, sister Veronica. 

Miss V. " We are two lonely women." 

Miss D. I don't believe I'd say that. She might think the 
child would cheer us up. 

Miss V. That's so, Dorothea. That will not do. I had 
better say we are two very quiet people, and the child would 
be sure to be lonely and homesick in such a dull place. 

Miss D. That sounds kinder, and — very genteel. 

Miss V. {continuing). ''But although Mr. Ballsley was 
only a third cousin, we are interested in the welfare of the 
child, and would be glad to bear her expenses." 

(Bell rings.) 

Miss D. Was that the bell ? 
Miss V. I think it was. 

Enter Bar., very untidy. 

Miss D. Barbara, your apron, and your cap. 

Miss V. Yes. Hurry as fast as you can. [Exit Bar. 

Miss D. Who can it be ? 

Miss V. Not callers, I hope. 

Enter Bar. , with huge stiff white cap and apron. Stumbles. 

Miss D. Oh, my ! 

Miss V. Barbara ! \^Exit Bar. 

Bar. (outside'). Yes, ma'am. Coom right in, coom right 
in ! ( Opens door.) I'll see if the loidies are home. I'll see. 
Oh, bless ray heart, of coorse they're home, right before my 
eyes ! 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 9 

Enter Bar., Letty Ballsley and Mrs. Grey. Exit Bar. 

Miss V. (rising). Good-afternoon. I am Miss Morton. 
Will you 

Bar. (rushing back into the room). Oh, the card. Here's 
the card, Miss Veronicky. 

Mrs. G. I am Mrs. Grey. I don't think we need the 
card. (^Smites.) 

Miss V. Mrs. Grey ! Anna Berwyn Grey ? 

Mrs. G. Yes. 

Miss D. {eager ty). Then this is the child ? 

Mrs. G. Yes. 

Miss V. Why — why, we were just writing to you ! 

Mrs. G. Yes, I know I was not expected. But I was 
obliged to go to Packer City on business, and I thought I 
might as well stop here on my way. Letty, come here, dear. 
This is your cousin, Miss Morton. 

Letty (shyly). How do you do ? 

Miss V. How do you do, dear ? And this is Miss Doro- 
thea. 

Miss D. And you are Letty ? 

(Takes hand in both of hers and leads her to seat.) 

Letty. Yes'm. Letitia Dorothea Ballsley. 

MissD. Oh! {Talks to her.) 

Miss V. Sit down, Mrs. Grey. As I told you, we were just 
about to write to you. 

Mrs. G. Yes? 

Miss V. We — we felt that it would be a rather serious 
matter to take so young a child. (Letty approaches with 
flowers in hand.) What is it, dear ? 

Letty. I — I brought you some pink roses from my garden. 
The violets were for Miss Dorothea, and the roses are for you. 

Miss D. Your favorite rose, Veronica ! Isn't it odd ? 

Miss V. Yes. Thank you, Letty. They are certainly 
lovely. 

Letty. Miss Dorothea says you love flowers, and so do L 

Miss D. (drawing her away). Come over here, dear. 

Miss V. As I was saying, Mrs. Grey, we feel, Dorothea 
and I, that it would be almost too great a responsibility. 
There would be no one for Letty to play with, and 

Mrs. G. She is not accustomed to being with children. 
Her father was almost her sole companion. 



10 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Miss V. But we are very quiet people, Mrs. Grey. We 
could not entertain her or 

Mrs. G. Don't you think she might entertain you, Miss 
Morton ? She is such a cheerful little body. 

Miss V. We are not used to any confusion. My sister's 
nerves are sensitive, and a child romping about the house 

Mrs. G. Oh, Letty isn't noisy. Don't misunderstand me ! 

Miss V. I see the child is not rough, Mrs. Grey, but 

Mrs. G. Oh, indeed. Miss Morton, I think Letty would 
not want to come, if she knew you felt that way about it. 

Miss D. Veronica dear, Letty would like to see the garden. 
Shall I take her out ? 

Miss V. Let Barbara take her, Dorothea. I should prefer 
you to talk this matter over with us. 

Miss D. Oh, very well, sister. I'll take her out to Barbara. 

[^Exit Miss D. 2vith Letty. 

Miss V. Don't misunderstand me, Mrs. Grey. It is of the 
child I am thinking as much as of ourselves. There is nothing 
for a child to do here. We are very particular. If the child 

wanted to do the things all children want to do Come in, 

Dorothea. (^As Miss D. enters?) I was telling Mrs. Grey 
how we felt about having Letty. As I was saying, if the child 
wanted to do what other children want to do, it would worry 
us. She would see it, and it would make her unhappy. 

Miss D. {wistfully^. She's not a bit like Marybell Sharpe, 
Veronica. 

Miss V. Very likely she is not, but 

Mrs. G. Pardon me if I seem insistent. I am thinking 
only of the poor father's wishes. But is it because you dislike 
children ? 

Miss D. Oh, no ! Why, Veronica is president of the board 
of the Orphans* Home. 

Miss V. And Dorothea gives large donations to the Chil- 
dren's Hospital. 

Mrs. G. Of course there would be the expense of board- 
ing and dressing the child. If you felt that was asking too 
much 

Miss V. {haughtily). It's not a matter of money, Mrs. 
Grey. 

Miss D. No, indeed, it's not that ! 

Miss V. Let me assure you, that does not enter into the 
question at all. 

Mrs. G. {sighing). Well, of course you know what is best 



THE MISSION OF LETTY H 

for vou. I am sorry because-I will be frank with you-1 do 
n(,t like the woman who has promised to take her if you do 

''""missV. (tnteresied). Some one else has offered to take 

^'^Mrs. G. Yes. A distant relation of Mr. Ballsley's, I be- 
lieve. Mrs. Gordon. ^ ^ j i 

Miss D. {horrified). Oh ! not Mrs. Ray Gordon ! 

Miss V. Surely not that woman ! 

Mrs. G. Yes. Do you know her ? 

Both. I should think we did ! . , 4. 

Miss D. It would be an absolute shame to give that sweet 
child into her keeping. 

Miss V. Why, she's hardly decent ! 

MissD. Oh, Veronica, couldn't we -o ^ » 

Miss V. Hush, Dorothea. Don't be sentimental Pardon 
the question, Mrs. Grey. But you were such a good friend to 
CouSdwd. It is utterly impossible for you to take Letty 

^""mrs^ G. I am sorry to say it is. You see my husband is 
a minister, and his health is unfortunately very poor It there- 
fore falls to my share to attend to a great many of his dut es 

Miss V. We would be willing to provide you with all the 
funds for her education and support. 

Mrs G I would not dare to take the child, though 1-- 
I love her already. My time is not my own. It would not be 
just to her. . 

Miss V. Where are you staying ? t 1 n 1 ^ 

Mrs G. I am on my way to Packer City. I shall leave 
httle Letty with Mrs. Gordon for to-night. 

Miss D. Oh, no, Veronica ! 

Miss V. Impossible ! 

Enter Letty afid Bar. 
Letty Miss Veronica, I'm going to take all the weeds out 
of your poppy bed. I'd love to. I'll begin to-morrow morn- 

ing. 

Mrs. G. But my dear httle girl — " 

Miss V. (imth sudden determination^ Very well, Letty 
Take off your hat and coat now, and Barbara will show you 
your little room. {To Bar.) The guest room, Barbara. 
(Bar. gasps.) 



12 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Miss D. Ob, sister ! {Joyfully.) 

Miss V. {firmly^. The guest room, Barbara ! {To Letty.) 
Run along, dear ! [^Exeufit Bar. and Letty. 

Mrs. G. Am I to understand that the little girl is to stay ? 
You surely would not be so cruel as to 

Miss V. Certainly she is to stay ! (Miss D. Jwgs her.) 
Dorothea, don't be such a fool. Understand me, Mrs. Grey, 
I should not do this thing of my own free choice. But Mrs. 
Ray Gordon. Impossible ! 

Mrs. G. She is determined to have her. She will probably 
come to see you about it. 

Miss V. The matter is quite settled. Please tell her so. 

Miss D. {Joyously). I wanted her the moment I set eyes 
upon her ! 

Mrs. G. Then I am to leave her here, to-night? 

Miss V. Certainly. Has she — has she any clothes ? 

Mrs. G. I brought only a few in this little satchel. But I 
can send her trunk later. Her wardrobe is not very elaborate. 

Miss V. That is of no consequence. Dorothea can run 
over to Packer City next week. 

Mrs. G. Well, I must be going. Perhaps it is wrong of 
me, but I cannot help telling you how glad I am Mrs. Ray 
Gordon is not to have the child. 

Miss D. Hush. Here she comes. 

Enter Letty. 

Letty. Oh, Mrs. Grey, you never saw such a dear room ! 
All pink rosebuds and lace ! 

Miss V. Some of Dorothea's foolishness. It's entirely too 
fussy for my taste. 

Mrs. G. Well, Letty dear, I must be going now. You 
will be happy in your new home, I am sure. 

Miss D. Could you not stay for the night, and attend to 
your errand in the morning ? 

Letty. Oh, please do ! 

Mrs. G. I wish I could, dear, but you know Mr. Grey 
would never be able to get along without me. Thank you. 
Miss Dorothea. May I come in once in a while and see 
Letty ? 

Miss V. We shall be glad to have you at any time. 

Letty {clinging to her, tearfully). Oh, Mrs. Grey, I — 

Mrs. G. Now, Letty, you know what you promised me ! 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 1^ 

Letty {tryhig to be calm). Yes, Mrs. Grey. 

Mrs. G. {stooping to kiss her). Good-bye, dear. Your 
cousins will let you come to see me too, one of these days, I 
am sure. 

Miss V. Of course, Letty. How would week after next do ? 

Letty. Oh, please ! 

Miss V. Then it is settled. A week from next Friday, 
Mrs. Grey, Letty shall come to see you. Don't forget ! 

Mrs. G. That is kind of you. Be a good girl, Letty. 
Good-bye. 

All. Good-bye. Good-bye. \^Exit Mrs. G. 

Miss D. Oh, Veronica, I am so glad you decided to keep 
her. {Takes Letty on her lap.) 

Miss V. Don't be too enthusiastic. It's a dangerous ex- 
periment. 

Miss D. I feel sure it will be all right. 

Miss V. Oh, of course you would. Is this your satchel, 
Letty? 

Letty {still a little tearful). Yes'm. 

Miss D. Shall I take Letty up to her room and show her 
where to put her things ? 

Miss V. Yes, that would be a good idea. Go with your 
Cousin Dorothea, Letty, and tell her how you want your room 
arranged. {Smiles at Miss D.) 

Letty. My room with the rosebuds ! {Cheering up.) 

Miss D. Come along, dear. [^Exeu?if Miss D. and L,ettv. 

Miss V. {sitting down by table). Well ! {Pause.) I 
wouldn't have believed it ! {Pause.) I know we will regret 
it ! {Pause.) Richard Ballsley's child. {Pause.) Dorothea 
is crazy about her already. H'm. Well, we're in for it now, 
anyhow ! 

Enter Bar. with the newspaper. 

Miss V. Oh, has the paper come, Barbara ? 

Bar. Yes'm. 

Miss V. Did John bring the groceries too ? 

Bar. Yes'm, he did. But whin you sees that soap, he's 
goin' to have the pleasure of takin' it back, I'm thinking. 

Miss V. Why, what is the matter with the soap, Barbara ? 

Bar. Little meagre cakes, ma'am. The smallest he ever 
brung. 

Miss V. Brought, Barbara. There is no such word as 
*« brung." 



14 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Bar. {meekly). Brought, ma'am. 

Miss V. Why are you waiting, Barbara ? Is there anything 
you want ? 

Bar. Please, ma'am. The wee colleen. Be she a-going to 
stay ? 

Miss V. Yes, Barbara. Miss Dorothea and I have asked 
her to live with us. 

Bar. Glory be, ma'am. And it's thankful I am I And 
be ye goin' to have the tarts for tea in honor of her ? 

Miss V. Tarts. We never have tarts for tea ! 

Bar. No'm. Nor children neither. I ain't a-meaning to 
presume, ma'am, but I thought maybe as the little girl was 
new, you'd like the tarts to go along of her. 

Miss V. {severely). Tarts are not good for little girls at 
night. 

Bar. But she's so strange, ma'am, and lonesome like. 

Miss V. {relenting). Well, maybe they might cheer her up 
a bit. And, Barbara, fill the blue cup with milk for her, and 
set her place next to Miss Dorothea. 

Bar. Yes'm. I'll not forget, ma'am. [Exit. 

Miss V. Humph ! Barbara too ! I see this business is 
going to upset the whole house. 

Enter Miss D. and Letty. 

Miss D. See, Veronica, here are Letty's lesson books. We 
must look them over. 

Miss V. Yes, indeed. You will have to tell us all about 
them, Letty. 

Miss D. Here's a speller, and an arithmetic, and — what's 
this, Letty ? 

Letty. That's my history, ma'am — I mean, Cousin 
Dorothea. 

Miss V. History. Seems to me you are rather young to 
study history, aren't you ? 

Letty. Well, you see that's my reading book. Father 
always said it was foolish to read things that didn't matter, 
and I might as well be reading something worth while. 

Miss V. Oh, of course, if your father said so ! 

Letty. He used to always read to me while I made the 
biscuits. 

Miss D. Biscuits ! 

Letty. Yes. I know how ! Father said they were the 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 1 5 

best he ever ate. And he said when I got married he wanted 
me to know how to do things. 

Miss V. Married ! My dear, you are too young to talk of 
such things. 

Letty. Oh, do you think so ? Well, you see, father and 1 
were alone so much of the time, I guess we talked about nearly 
everything. And I asked him about getting married, and if 
he thought I would grow up and get married. 

Miss D. Sakes alive, child ! 

{Both are horrified,) 

Letty. And he said any nice woman could get married if 
she really wanted to, he thought — and of course I want to ! 

Miss V. My dear little girl, you cannot judge of such 
things ! 

Letty. Well, of course I know you didn't want to, or you 
would have, 'cause I asked papa. And he said he knew Miss 
Dorothea could have, and he was pretty sure about you, too, 
for he knew of a mighty nice great big major who came to see 
you an awful lot, and then stopped real sudden, and so 

Miss V. {severely). Letty, never let me hear you talk of 
this again ! It is shocking for a little girl like you to 

{Gets up and goes out.) 

Letty. Oh, dear, I — I didn't know. 

Miss D. Veronica means, dear, that as a usual thing little 
girls your age talk about their dolls and their story-books. It 
is only grown people who talk about *' getting married." 

Letty {nearly crying). I'm dreadfully sorry. I did 

not You see my mamma died when I was very little, 

and — and 

Miss D. Never mind ; we will not talk about it any more. 

Letty. Did I make Miss Veronica very angry ? Didn't she 
like the major ? 

Miss D. Now listen, Letty. The major hasn't been to see 
Miss Veronica for a great many years. She doesn't like to 
hear anybody talk about him, because it makes her feel badly. 
She — she told him not to come any more, because — well, be- 
cause she thought it was best. Now I have told you, and I 
want you to promise me that you will never speak of this again. 

Letty. Indeed I never will, Miss Dorothea. 

Miss D. Call me Cousin Dorothea, dear. 

Letty, I'd love to, Cousin Dorothea. It's rny name, 



lb THE MISSION OF LETTY 

too, you know. Father always thought it was a sweet name. 
And, do you know he had a picture of you in his desk? 

Miss D. {rising suddenly and going to the witidow). Did 
he? 

Letty. Yes. Of course it was taken long ago. I saw it 
one day and asked him who it was, and he told me. And 
then he put it away and I never saw it again. You were fatter 
llien, weren't you? But your eyes looked just the same, so 
kind and gentle. (Miss D. says nothings but looks out of the 
window. Letty approaches sloivly.') Have I said something 
I ought not to, again ? 

Miss D. {coming back a?id sitiitig dow7i). No, dear, no. 
You see it is a long time since we have had a little girl in the 
house, Letty, and {putti?ig her arm around her), it makes us 
think of all sorts of things we have not thought of for years. 
Now let us look at the lesson books again. Are you a good 
speller ? 

Letty. No, Cousin Dorothea, I might as well tell you, I 
am awful ! Poor father got frightfully out of patience with 
me ! 

Miss D. That's too bad. We'll have to see what we can 
do. How about arithmetic ? 

Letty. Just try me ! {Proudly.) I'm not afraid of that ! 
I beat all the boys in the class when I went to school. But 
father would not let me go any more. {Sighs.) 

Miss D. He made you stop school ? 

Letty. Well, you see there was a dreadful girl there, and 
he 



Miss D. I see. 

(Miss V. at the door.) 

Miss V. Come in here, Marybell. Bring your friend with 
you. And Catherine, you come in, too. Letty, I've brought 
some of the girls in to see you. They will show you the way 
to school to-morrow. This is Marybell Sharpe, Letty. 

Letty. How do you do ? 

Marybell Sharpe. Hello ! 

Miss V. And your friend, Marybell ? 

Mary. Oh, it's Babe McGill. Lives 'round the corner. 

Miss V. This is my little Cousin Letty, Babe. 

Babe McGill. What's her other name ? 

Miss V. Ballsley. Letitia Ballsley. 

Mary. Gee ! Some name ! 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



17 



Miss V. And, come here, Callierine. This is Catherine 
Pemberton, Letty, and she lives just across the street. 

Lettv {shyly). How d'ye do, Catherine ? 

Catherine Pemberton. How d'ye do, Letty? 

Letty. Will you sit down, over here ? 

Mary. Those your books ? {Points.) 

Letty. Yes. 

Mary. What grade are you in ? 

Letty. I — I don't know. You see at the last I didn't go 
to school. I just studied at home. 

Babe. Where's your reader? 

Letty. I haven't any. I read out of the history. 

Mary. For pity's sake ! ^q\y fufiny / 

Cath. Do you like to read ? 

Letty. Just adore it. Don't you ? 

Cath. Yes. I have some new books, and you can read 



them if you like. 



Can you run ? 



Mary. Pooh, it's lots more fun to run races. 

Letty. Pve never tried running races. 

Mary. For pity's sake ! 

Babe. I have a dog. Do you like dogs ? 

Letty. I like all kinds of animals. And chickens and 
flowers and birds. 

Miss D. You must get Letty to tell you about her garden. 

Mary. Can't she come out for a while? 

Miss V. I think it is nearly tea-time now, and I'm afraid 
Letty is pretty tired. She has been traveling to-day, you see. 
But she will join you in the morning. 

Mary. Oh, all right. Come on, Babe. Let's call for 
Jimmie. 

Babe. 

Letty. 

Mary. 

Cath. 



Good-bye, Letty. 



Mother may be looking for 
{Exeunt Babe, 



Think he'll be home ? 
Good-bye. 
Good-bye. 

I guess ril go, too. 
me. Good-bye. 

Letty. Pd like to go to school witli you. 
Cath. and Mary. Letty to Miss D.) She's the nicest. 

Miss D. Yes. Catherine is more ladylike and gentle. 
Marybell has a kind heart, but she is a little bit noisy. I am 
glad, Letty, that you use nice language. 

Miss V. Yes, you must be careful. Catherine never uses 
any slang, and she has very sweet little manners. You will 
like her. 



1 8 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Letty. I do like her. May I go to see her ? 

Miss V. You must wait till she comes to see you, and in- 
vites you to come. 

Letty. Oh ! 

Miss D. Can you sew, Letty ? 

Letty. Mrs. Grey was just teaching me. I didn't do very 
well. But perhaps I can learn. 

Miss D. Of course you can. 

Etiter Bar. 

Bar. Miss Veronicky, mim. 

Miss V. Yes, Barbara. 

Bar. Shall I put them all on, mim ? 

Miss V. All what ? 

Bar. Thim as I ast you about. 

Miss V. Really, Barbara, you will have to make yourself 
plainer. 

Bar. {hands to mouth, stage whisper). Thim tarts, mim. 

Miss V. Oh ! Yes, of course. Put on plenty. 

Letty {wistfully). I wonder, would you mind. Cousin 
Veronica. May I go up ^nd see the room with the pink rose- 
buds once more ? 

Miss V. Of course you may. 

Letty. I'll be so very careful. I'll not get a spot on any- 
thing. But, oh, it's so pretty to be all nestled in amongst 
rosebuds ! 

Miss V. It's very deUcate, my dear. I'm afraid we may 
have to change it a little. 

Letty. Oh, don't ! Please try me. I'll be so careful. 

Miss D. I am sure she will, Veronica. 

Miss V. Well, run along now. But don't be too long, for 
tea is nearly ready. 

Letty. All right, Cousin Veronica. [Exit, 

Miss D. {enthusiastically). Veronica, she's a dear ! 

Miss V. She's quite an agreeable child, but I am afraid 
she has been allowed to talk too much. 

Miss D. She will soon learn. 

Miss V. Of course a man could not be expected to know 
how to bring up a child. It's a blessing Mrs. Grey befriended 
them. Richard always was a dreamy ne'er-do-well. 

Miss D. {hurt). Really, Veronica, I think that is putting 
it a little too strongly. 

Miss V. Not a bit too strong, not a bit I 



THE MISSION OF LETTY I9 



Miss D. That woman he married 



Miss V. That's just it ! W/iy did he marry her ? Just 
out of spite, and you know it. And what man with any back- 
bone would marry out of spite ? 

Miss D. (^gently). Cousin Richard was peculiar. 

Miss V. I should think he was ! Just because you did not 
fall in with all his wishes 

Miss D. {tearfully'). Please, Veronica. I — I can't stand 
that, you know. 

Miss V. {softly). Forgive me, Dorothea. But you know 
how I feel about men. There isn't one of them who can 
appreciate the difference between a lady and a dressed-up 
dairy maid. And all they want is flattery and attention ! 

E7iter Letty. 

Letty. Did 1 stay too long ? 

Miss D. No, dear. 

Letty. Oh, it's so pretty. Almost like a garden. 

Enter Bar. 

Bar. Tea is ready, mim. 

Miss V. Oh, very well, Barbara. Come, Letty. 

{They rise and go out.) 

Bar. {passing near Letty and making horn of hands, 
whispers). Tarts ! 



CURTAIN 



ACT II 

SCENE. — Same as in Act I. Rooin slightly changed and 
freshened as if new things had been added on some one' s 
suggestion. Interval of five and a half years between Ads 
land II. 

{Curtain rises, as Letty enters, followed by three young 
girls ; the little girls of Act I, now in long dresses and 
grown up.') 

Letty. Come in here, girls. We can rehearse our parts in 
this room. 

Mary. Oh, dear ! I'm so hot ! I don't know how I am 
going to stand all that toggery to-night. 

Cath. You ought to be thin, my dear, and then toggery 
wouldn't bother you so much. 

Babe. What flowers do you have to carry, Letty ? 

Letty. Pink roses. And we have just quantities of them. 
I'm in great luck. 

Mary. Have you bought your daisies yet, Catherine? 

Cath. Yes, I got them this afternoon, at Young's. 

Letty. I think poppies just suit Marybell. She's such a 
luxurious creature. 

Mary. Yes — that's what they usually say about Fatties. 
Do you think pansies suit Babe, too ? 

Letty. Of course they do. Pansies for thoughts. Babe's 
a pensive thing ! 

Mary. Pensive — Babe ? What a joke ! 

Babe. Well, I can't see that we are doing much rehearsing, 
girls. 

Mary. I know my part, anyhow. 

Cath. I am not at all sure of mine, and every time I look 
at Letty, I'm certain I am going to laugh. 

Babe. Try yours through. 

Cath. {rising and taking a pose). Ahem ! To Zephyr.* 

* If desired, a Folk dance, or songs, or other recitations may be substi- 
tuted for ones given here. 

20 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 21 

'* Haste thee nymph, and bring with thee 
Jest and youthful jollity ; 
Imps and cranks and wanton wiles 
Nods and becks and wreathed smiles 
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek 
And love to live in dimple sleek. 
Sport that wrinkled Care derides, 
And Laughter, holding both his sides : 
Come and trip it as you go 
On the light fantastic toe, 
And in thy right hand lead with thee 
The mountain Nymph, Sweet Liberty." 

Babe. Bravo ! — You'll bring down the house ! 

Mary. Say, Catherine, you looked at Pa Reynolds this 
morning when you spoke of Wrinkled Care, and I thought the 
girls near me would explode. 

Babe. Poor old Pa ! And girls ! doesn't Lou Carson look 
idiotic in that costume? A nymph! She looks more like a 
playful cow than a nymph. 

Letty. Lou isn't exactly dainty. 

Cath. You needn't pity her. She's entirely pleased with 
herself. 

Letty. Oh, yes, I know that. Come, Babe, I thought you 
were so anxious to rehearse. Get to work, miss. 

Babe {groa?iing as she rises). 

" Wisdom in sable garb arrayed, 

Immersed in rapturous thoughts profound, 

And Melancholy silent maid. 

With leaden eye that loves the ground : 

Still on thy solemn steps attend 

Warm Charity, the general friend, 

With Justice, to herself severe, 

And Pity dropping soft the sadly pleasing tear." 

(^Sifs dowfi.') 

Cath. Bessie loves that part. She's Pity, you know, and 
she looks real weepy too. 

Mary. Bess is so tall and slender. I think she looks lovely 
in her costume. 

Babe. You haven't said yours, Letty. 

Letty {rising). Here goes ! 



12 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

" Life of Life ! Thy lips enkindle 

With their love the breath between them : 
And thy smiles before they dwindle 
Make the cold air free — then screen them 
In those locks, where whoso gazes 
Faints entangled in their mazes." 

Babe. H'm — that's kind of sentimental ! Wouldn't you 
like to see Letty in love, though ? She would be a spectacle ! 

Letty (fiettled). I'd like to know why ! 

Mary. My dear, you'd take it so hard ! {Finches her.) 

Letty. Ouch ! Take care for my arm! 

Babe. How is your arm, Letty ? 

Letty. Oh, it's practically well now. I have to be a little 
careful of it, that's all. 

Cath. I never did hear the complete story of that broken 
arm. I was in New York when it happened, you know. 

Babe. That's so, Catherine. Well, you missed a fine sight. 
I was an eye-witness. 

Cath. How did you come to fall off the horse, Letty ? 

Letty. Just a bit of foolishness. Lou Carson dared me to 
ride Blackbird. 

Mary. Of course Letty could not stand that ! 

Letty. Certainly not ! I was obliged to take up the dare. 
I was getting along beautifully, had just turned into the 
Braxton road, when along comes Tootsie Mason in his auto. 
Of course he took pleasure in making an abominable noise, 
and — well, it got on Blackbird's nerves, and she dispensed 
with the pleasure of my company ! 

Cath. Threw you ? 

Letty. Head over heels into the road. 

Cath. Humph ! I should have thought Tootsie would 
have felt proud of himself. 

Babe. My dear, he was nearly reduced to tears. Wanted 
to take Letty home in the auto. But Major Shelton saw the 
whole thing, and he was so furious at Tootsie that he would 
not allow him to come near Letty. So he, the major, took her 
home himself in his surrey. 

Cath. What ! The major went to Miss Morton's house ! 

Mary, {in an undertone). Sh ! Be careful ! 

Letty {coolly). Yes. Wasn't it good of him ? You know 
Aunt Ronnie and he had not been on very good terms. I think 
it was dear of him to bother with me under the circumstances. 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



23 



Babe. Oh, the major is a trump ! 

Cath. How about Tootsie ? Did he apologize ? 

Mary. Profusely. Flowers, candy, and books. Nothing 
is too good for Letty nowadays. 

Babe. Humph ! 1 wish something exciting would happen 
to me, 

Letty. Well, just let me tell you, miss, that a broken arm 
isn't such a lot of fun. I had a few bruises also that were not 
the most comforting things in the world. 

Cath. How did your Aunt Veronica feel about it ? You 
call her aunt now, don't you ? You called her cousin before 
I went away. 

Letty. Well, you see an "aunt" has more authority. 
Cousin sounded too friendly. Aunt Ronnie thought. 

Cath. {laughing'). Oho ! I see ! 

Babe. Sakes alive ! Don't tell me it is half-past five ! 
Why, I promised to be at Young's at five ! It's farewell my 
own to thee, my dears ! 

Mary. For me too. Where has the time gone? Hurry 
up, Catherine. 

Cath. I'm coming. Good-bye, Letty, 

Letty. I think I'll pick my roses now. 

Babe. Come on, then. 

(^Exeunt girls, with wraps, etc. After they are goney 
Bar. peeps in the room and finding it empty, comes in. 
Straightens up. Stage busi?tess.) 

Enter Miss V. 

Miss V. Ah, here you are, Barbara. I want to see you a 
moment. 

Bar. Yis'm. 

Miss V. Barbara, I notice you have been making hot bis- 
cuits for tea every evening. 

Bar. Yis'm. You see Miss Letty she do just be that 
partial to thim. 

Miss V. That's all very kind, Barbara, but too many hot 
biscuits are very injurious to the digestion. 

Bar. The which, mini ? 

Miss V. They are very bad for the stomach. 

Bar. Now, is that really so, mim ? And they lookin' so 
harmless and white, and Miss Letty a-lovin' them so ! 

Miss V. Miss Letty may love them, and at the same time 



24 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

they may be very bad for her— that is, too many of them. 
And I am sure you wouldn't want to see Miss Letty sick, 
Barbara. 

Bar. The saints defend us, no, mim ! 

Miss V. Or have her pretty pink and white complexion 
get all yellow and rough ? 

Bar. Ah, now, Miss Veronicky, and could those pretty 
lillle white things do such a shabby trick as that ? 

Miss V. Indeed they can, Barbara. Why, Mrs. Gunsall 
attributes all her indigestion to hot biscuits. 

Bar. Och, Miss Veronicky ! And no wonder ! That 
German Lizzie of Mrs. Gunsall's, she could not make a dacent 
biscuit to save her sowl ! It ud be just like ating brickbats. 
And no wonder she'd have a bit o' trouble makin* thim go 
down peaceful like ! 

Miss V. {s77iilitig). Well, there's no fault to be found with 
your biscuits on that score, Barbara. I'll say that for them. 
But have you made some for tea to-night ? 

Bar. Just a wee bit of a pan, Miss Veronicky. 

Miss V. {shaki?ig her head), I thought so. Well, Barbara, 
we'll let it go to-night, but, remember, not any to-morrow 
night ! 

Bar. Of coorse not, mim. But won't Miss Letty be dis- 
appointed, tho' ! 

Miss V. We can have some rusks. She likes those nearly 
as well. 

Bar. All right, mim. And, excuse me, mim, but you be 
lookin' handsome in that pretty dress. 

Miss V. Now, Barbara, be off with your blarney. You 
know I am growing to be quite an old lady. 

Bar. You're a-growin' younger every day, mim. Sure I'll 
make a bit of a shrewd guess that Miss Letty do be makin' the 
whole lot of us over. 

Miss V. (^gravely). I believe she is, Barbara. It's like 
having sunshine every day to see her about the house. 

Bar. That's God's truth, mim. 

E?iter Letty. 

Letty. Look, Aunt Ronrtie, what beautiful roses I found. 
Did you ever see anything more perfect ? I shall be the envy 
of all the girls at the festival. 

Miss V. I suppose I've not a flower left in my garden. 

Letty. 1 didn't take a single bud. Aunt Ronnie. The 



THE MISSION OF LETTV 2^ 

bushes will be full again by to-morrow. (To Bar^) Put them 
in water for me, will you, Barbara ? ( Gives her all but one. 
Exit Bar. ) Oh, you have on your pretty new gown. How 
lovely ! And I've a pink rose I'm going to put in your hair. 

Miss V. Ridiculous ! You'll do nothing of the sort. 
I'm too old to wear flowers. 

Letty. Too old ! Why, Aunt Ronnie, you're not old. 
There's Mrs. Venner, she's seventy, and she always wears 
flowers. And you would look just darling with this in your 
hair. 

Miss V. {as Letty approaches). Letty ! Go away from 
me ! 

Letty. Please, Aunt Ronnie ! 

Miss V. Do you want me to look as if I had taken leave 
of my senses ? 

Enter Miss D. 

Letty. Here's Auntie Dee. She'll tell you the truth about 
it. Let her decide. 

Miss V. Pooh ! Dorothea is as foolish as you are ! 

Letty. She wouldn't let me make you look ugly, anyhow. 
Sit down, like a dear, auntie, do ! 

Miss V. Well, get through with your nonsense. {Sits 
down.) I suppose 1 might as well submit as be badgered out 
of my life ! 

Letty. If Auntie Dee says it does not look pretty, out it 
shall come. Now, be honest, Auntie Dee ! 

Miss D. I promise ! 

Miss V. Huh ! — As if anybody ever gained anything by 
disagreeing with you ! Ouch ! {Jumps and puts hand to 
head.) I knew you'd hurt me ! 

Letty. Oh, I'm so sorry ! I was so anxious to get it just 
right. {Readjusts rose.) There, does that hurt ? 

Miss V. {tartly). No one can put a stem full of thorns in 
a person's hair, and not hurt. 

Letty. But does it hurt now, Aunt Ronnie? 

Miss V. No-o. Not just this minute, but it probably will 
later. 

Letty. Oh, I hope not. There, Auntie Dee, now tell the 
solemn truth. Does that rose look pretty in Aunt Ronnie's 
hair, or does it not ? 

Miss D. It certainly does. Look for yourself, Veronica. 



26 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Miss V. (looki?ig, and saying scornfully). Humph ! I 
look like an idiot ! 

Letty {kissing her). You look like a dear! I wish you 
were going with us to-night, Aunt Ronnie. It was stupid of 
Mrs. Venner to give her dinner the same night as Mrs. Car- 
son's festival. I beheve she did it for spite ! 

Miss D. Oh, Letty ! 

Letty. Well, you know there are spiteful people in the 
world. Auntie Dee. And Mrs. Venner isn't exactly fond of 
Mrs. Carson. 

Miss V. Gossip. Nothing but gossip ! Is your arm well 
protected, Letty ? You must be careful of it for a good while 
yet. A broken arm is a bad thing to take to a festival. 

Letty. Oh, it's quite strong, now. 

Miss V. {scornfully). Oh, I suppose so ! 

Letty. I'll be careful, truly. 

Miss D. You are going to wear your white wrap to-night, 
aren't you, Veronica ? 

Miss V. I certainly am not. 

Miss D. Why not, dear ? That black one looks so wintry. 

Miss V. You seem to forget, Dorothea, that I am no longer 
a young girl. 

Letty {in the doorway). Don't worry. Auntie Dee ! I've 
hid the black one. {Runs out laughing and singing.) 

Miss V. Letty ! {As Letty's singifig grows fainter.) 
This is going too far ! 

Miss D. {pleading). Do it to please the child, Veronica. 

Miss V. {hotly). To please the child—to please the child ! 
Do you realize, Dorothea, that we spend our whole lives doing 
things we don't want to, just because it will please Letty ? 
That girl will be ruined if we keep on ! 

Miss D. Do you think she is growing selfish, Veronica? 

Miss V. Selfish ? I didn't say that. But— well, no child 
can be indulged as you indulge Letty without becoming spoiled 
in the end. 

Miss D. I should hate to spoil her, Veronica. But I do 
not believe Letty has a selfish thought in her heart. I don't 
know how we ever lived without her. 

Miss V. I love her just as dearly as you do, but she has 
her own way too much. 

Miss D. Let her have it to-night, Veronica. It is her 
birthday ; we must not mar her evening. She is so happy. 
We will talk the matter over to-morrow. 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 2/ 

Miss V. It will always be *' to-morrow" with you, 
Dorothea. You can't deny her a thing. I shall certainly 
have to talk to her. 

{Exit Miss V. As she goes out Letty peeps in the other door.') 

Letty {cautiously). Has she gone, Auntie Dee ? 

Miss D. Yes. 

Letty. Was she angry with me ? 

Miss D. Not very. 

Letty. She will not be cross to the major, will she ? 

Miss D. Of course not ! 

Letty. Oh, Auntie Dee, I do hope they'll fix it up to- 
night. I'd be glad to have ray other arm broken, if it would 
do any good. 

Miss D. I am afraid that would not help. 

Letty. I shall always be so glad it was the major who 
picked me up. Aunt Ronnie never would have spoken to him 
of her own accord. Would she? 

Miss D. I hardly think she would, dear. 

Letty. Of course he had to bring me home, and of course 
Aunt Ronnie had to be polite to him then. 

Miss D. It seemed like the hand of Providence. 

Letty. Wasn't it funny at first? I suppose she nearly 
fainted when she saw who was carrying me in. And when he 
brought me the basket of fruit the next day, she did not know 
whether to ask him in or not. 

Miss D. Poor Veronica ! 

Letty (cheerfully). She can't make him stay away this 
time. He is back for good ! 

Miss D. I hope so. 

Letty. I believe she tries to dress her ugliest when he 
comes, for fear he will think she is being nice to him. She 
only wore her new gown to-night because Mrs. Venner's 
dinners are so dressy. 

Enter Bar. with flowers. 

Bar. (smiling broadly). For Miss Veronicky, mim. 

Miss D. Pink roses ! She will never wear them ! Take 
them up-stairs, Barbara. 

Letty (hastily). Wait ! — wouldn't it be better to give 
them to her just as she goes ? 

Miss D. 1 — I don't know. Put them in a cool place, 
Barbara. \_Exit Bar. 



28 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

Lettv. If she has time to think about it, she will surely 
find some excuse, and that would hurt the major's feelings. 

Miss D. (^gently). We must not make her angry, dear. 

Letty {puckering her brow). Such a tangle ! Oh, Auntie 
Dee. {Claps her hands.) I have an idea. The pink rose in 

her hair is just the same color, and he'll think (^Joyously. ) 

Oh, Auntie Dee. He'll think she put it there ! 

Miss D. (anxiously). Oh, Letty ! I — I am afraid it will 
not do ! 

Letty. Why not? We did not know he was going to 
send pink roses. 

Miss D. No-o. But Vernonica would not want him to 
think she was trying to flatter him. 

Letty. As if any one could ever think that of Aunt 
Ronnie ! Besides, why shouldn't she be good to the major? 
Don't you want them to be happy ? 

Miss D. It isn't that, dear. You — you don't quite under- 
stand. It's a matter of principle with Veronica. 

Letty (Jisie7iing). Heavens ! Here she comes, and I am 
not dressed ! \^Exity hastily. 

Enter Miss V. 

Miss V. Where is Letty ? She really has hidden my black 
coat. 

Miss D. She has gone up-stairs to dress, Veronica. 

Miss V. No good can come of such indulgence. The 
very idea of my having to wear clothes I do not want to wear ! 
It's preposterous ! 

Miss D. I am not trying to defend Letty, sister, but I 
really do think the white wrap is more in keeping with that 
gown. 

Miss V. It is a great piece of foolishness anyway, my 
going to this dinner without you. If I had not been afraid the 
major would think me ungrateful after his kindness to Letty, 
I never should have gone. 

Miss D. We couldn't let the child go to the festival with- 
out a chaperone, and it would have broken her heart not to go. 

Miss V. {irritably). Everything is against me. Every old 
gossip in Fairdale will have something to say. 

Miss D. Why should you care ? I have been thinking a 
great deal about the past lately, Veronica dear, and I believe I 
am seeing things- in a new way. It seems like a dispensation 
of Providence, this coming of Letty to our little home. Do 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 29 

you know, dear, I think we were growing to be two very 
selfish and self-centered women. We tried to do our duty, 
but we did not want to be told how. Eighteen years ago 

Miss V. Oh, don't go back to that, Dorothea ! 

Miss D. Yes, Veronica, I want to go back to that. I want 
to talk about it. 1 think the time has come. 

Miss V. {tmeasily). What is the use of raking up old un- 
happiness ? 

Miss D. I think there is a use, Veronica, and I am going 
to ask you to let me have my way this time. 

Miss V. Oh ! very well ! 

Miss D. Veronica, I have never been so happy in my life 
as I have been in watching this little girl grow and blossom. 
Hasn't it made you happy too, Veronica? 

Miss V. Of course, Dorothea, of course it has. 

Miss D. Well, dear, eighteen years ago — how long it 
seems ! — you and I each held a great happiness in her hands. 
But we did not value it. We wanted our happiness, but we 
wanted it to come in our own way. When Richard and I 
quarreled, I would listen to no reasoning. I have always felt 
that the breach between the major and yourself was my fault. 

Miss V. {hotly). It was no such thing ! He acted Uke an 
obstinate, self-willed, tyrannical 

Miss D. No, Veronica, he acted the part of an unselfish 
friend. We were too excited to see it then. But I have 
watched the man all these years. It was you and I who were 
obstinate and self-willed. 

Miss V. {bitterly). Did Richard Ballsley treat you fairly? 

Miss D. Did I treat Richard Ballsley fairly ? 

Miss V. {hotly). He had no right to lose his temper and 
leave you in that headlong way. 

Miss D. No right? No right? Ah, Veronica, we are 
not thinking of our rights when we are angry. He was wrong, 
but I was equally at fault. I could have set him right about 
the matter, if I had not been too proud. I could have ex- 
plained. Now he is gone, and though I see it all plainly, it is 
too late to make reparation. But you, Veronica 

Miss V. {coldly). I did what I thought was right. 

Miss D. In anger, Veronica, v/e have not the power of 
weighing things justly. The major was trying to help. I 
understand it all now. It was a generous impulse which 
moved him to take Richard's part. 

Miss V. He might have been a little more generous to me ! 



30 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



Miss D. You would not let him, dear. But all these years 
he has been a faithful friend to us both. When he had a 
chance to do us a service, he did not let his pride hold him 
aloof. Do you suppose it was an easy thing for him to bring 
that child to this house, even injured as she was? 

Miss V. No. 

Miss D. Do you suppose it was easy for him to come back 
the second time, not knowing what sort of welcome he might 
receive ? 

Miss V. No. 

Miss D. Ah, Veronica, he has proved himself bigger, 
more generous than we ! He has proved that no slight and 
no neglect could destroy his affection for you. I admire him. 
I respect him ! {Pause. Miss V. paces restlessly up a?id 
down. Miss D., /;/ a low voice.) As for Richard, if he were 
here now, I would go to him and confess my cowardice. 1 
think he suffered. 1 think the woman he married was so un- 
worthy of him that he made his own punishment. I know 
he regretted it, for he sent his little girl to me. That was his 
way of expressing his forgiveness to me, and of asking mine. 
And oh, Veronica, if you knew how I love that little girl ! 

Miss V. (deeply moved). I do know — no one could help 
loving Letty. 

Miss D. The child does not remember her mother — she 
was so young when she died. And she gives me a love that is 
precious beyond words. But you, Veronica ! If happiness 
comes to your door are you going to shut it out ? Are you 
still too proud? 

Miss V. (J?i a low voice). I don't know what you mean, 
I'm sure. 

Miss D. You do, Veronica, you do ! Stretch out your 
hand and take it. Don't turn away again, don't ! 

Miss V. Sh ! Letty is coming. 

(Walks to the window. Letty is heard singing outside. 
Dances into the room.) 

Letty. Look at me. Look at me ! Did you ever see 
anything prettier? 

Miss D. Why, Letty, what conceit ! 

Letty. My dress. Auntie Dee, not me ! though I'm not so 
bad, cither, now I come to look. {Looks in glass.) 

Ivliss D. Why, Letty / 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



31 



Letty. Well, do you want me to say I'm ugly? It 
wouldn't be the truth, and you gave me the strictest kind of 
orders about telling fibs. (^Sees Miss V. and slips quietly up 
to her.) Are you really, truly angry. Aunt Ronnie? 

Miss V. {without turning). No, dear. 

Letty. Will you please wear the pretty white cloak ? 

Miss V. You'd better not talk to me about that white coat. 
The less said about it, the better for you, miss ! 

Lettv {coaxi?ig). If you don't look at my pretty new dress, 
I'll know you are angry. 

Miss V. Humph ! 

Letty. Dear Aunt Ronnie, look at me ! 

Miss V. {turning round). Be off with you ! You're so 
full of flattery now, you can hardly walk. 

Miss D. {tactfully). Did you give Aunt Ronnie her flowers, 
dear ? 

Miss V. {blushing). Flowers ! 

Letty. Yes. That foolish old major sent you some de- 
lectable pink roses. What a waste ! If he knew how little 
you valued such compliments, he'd have sent them to me ! 
I've a mind to keep them anyhow. But I'll let you look at 
them. 

Miss V. {as Letty gives her the roses). How perfectly 
beautiful ! But he certainly was foolish to send them. 

Letty. I knew it. I said so ! To waste his sweetness on 
the desert air ! 

Miss D. How you do chatter, Letty. 

{Noise outside.) 

Letty. There come the girls. Are you ready. Auntie 
Dee? 

Miss D. Yes. But it is too early to go yet. It is only 
half-past six. 

Letty {as Miss V. starts out). Don't go, Aunt Ronnie. 
The girls will want to see you. 

Miss V. Four magpies talking at once ! No, Letty, I will 
really have to be excused. [Exit hastily. 

Enter Bar. 

Bar. The young ladies is here, Miss Letty. 
Letty. Bring them right in, Barbara. 



32 THE MISSION OF LETTY 

(Bar. goes out and rettir7is with Mary., Babe and Catu., 
all dressed in gala attire y each carrying flowers.) 

Miss D. My ! what a festive array. I declare you girls 
certainly look sweet. 

Letty. See Marybell's new watch, Auntie Dee. Isn't it a 
beauty ? 

Miss D. {looking at it). It certainly is. Did your father 
give it to you, dear ? 

Mary. Yes. It was a birthday present. 

Miss D. You girls are nearly of an age, aren't you ? 

Letty. Yes. Just a week's difference. Babe, do you re- 
member the first day I came, and you asked me if I liked 
dogs ? 

Cath. Yes, and Marybell was so disgusted with you be- 
cause you said you had never run races. 

Letty. I can beat her all to pieces now. She thinks too 
much of her dignity to try to race me now. 

Mary. Not of my dignity, but of my clothes. I'd stumble 
over the first pebble I saw. 

Babe. What I remember most distinctly is the fact that 
you studied your reading out of a history. I thought that 
must be dreadful. 

Letty. Look at Marybell's dress ! It's only half buttoned. 

Cath. That's just like her ! Marybell, you'll surely have 
to be rich, so you can have a maid to button you in. 

Mary. I decided on that long ago, my dear. 

Miss D. What did you think of Letty' s pictures, girls ? 
Aren't they splendid ? 

Babe. Why, we haven't seen them ! When did they come ? 

Letty. This morning. 

Cath. Show them to us right away. 

Letty. They are in my room. Want to come up, girls ? 

Mary. Of course we do. 

{Exeunt girls. Miss D. puts her gloves and wrap ready, 
and smooths her hair. Enter Miss V. quietly. Miss D. 
turns and sees her.) 

Miss D. Did you see the girls, Veronica? They look 
lovely. 

Miss V. No. I did not want to talk to them. I slipped 
past them. 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



33 



Miss D. You are not out of patience with me, Veronica ? 
Miss V. {taking Miss D.'s face between her hands). With 
you, Dorothea ? I couldn't be ! 

(Kisses her i they stand a moment ^ and bell rings.) 

Miss D. The bell ! That must be the major, dear. Where 
is your wrap ? 

Enter Bar. 

Bar. It is Major Shelton, mini. And please, mim, he says 
he will wait on the verandy. 

Miss V. Very well, Barbara. Tell him I shall be ready in 
a minute. [^Exit Bar. 

(Miss D. holds wrap, then takes Miss V.'s hands and looks 
earnestly at her.) 

Miss D. Veronica, dear? 

Miss V. Yes, Dorothea. 

Miss D. I — I made a foolish mistake once, long ago. I 
hurt you and I hurt myself. I am glad I am not going with 
you to-night. I — I wish we could undo the harm, Veronica. 
{Pause. Miss V. keeps eyes on floor.) Go, Veronica, go ! 
The major is waiting ! {Gives her roses.) And, Veronica, 
forget your pride ! 

Miss V. I will try. 

{Exit Miss V. Miss D. stands in the middle of the room 
with her face in her hands.) 

Enter Bar. 

Bar. {anxiously). Ah, Miss Dorthee, ah, mim, ye beant 
crying, be ye ? 

Miss D. No, Barbara, no. I could not be crying, for I am 
very, very happy to-night. 

Bar. But there be tears on your cheeks, mim. And thim 
are niver happy things. 

Miss D. These are happy ones, Barbara. 

Bar. The Lord be praised, mim ! It would be like to 
break my heart if you should find cause for weepin'. 

Miss D. Thank you, Barbara. {Noise outside.) There 



34 



THE MISSION OF LETTY 



come the girls, Barbara. Don't you want to see their pretty 
dresses ? 

Bar. Sure, and I do that, Miss Dorthee. 

Miss D. Come in, girls, and let Barbara see your pretty 
frocks. 

Enter girls. Bar. inspects them carefully. 

Bar. Hovvly saints, but ain't ye like a bookay of flowers, 
though ! (Goes all around them, the?i stands with hands on 
hips.) What stuff be this. Miss Babe ? (^Feels it.) 

Babe (smilifig). It's silk mull, Barbara. 

Bar. My, ain't it wonderful fine, though ! And look at 
the long skirts on the colleens, would ye ? 

Cath. Well, we are grown up, Barbara. 

Bar. That ye be, indade ! 

Miss D. -^ Come, girls, I think we must be going now. It's 
nearly seven o'clock. 

Letty. Gracious, we'll have to hurry. Get your things 
together, girls. 

Babe. Here's your flowers, Catherine. 

Mary. There ! I left my fan at home. 

Cath. Never mind. I'll lend you mine. 

Letty. Go on out, girls. I'll be with you in a minute. 
{Exit all but Miss D. and Letty.) Oh, Auntie Dee, I saw 
Aunt Ronnie go, and she had on her white coat. And, Auntie 
Dee, she took the roses ! 

Miss D. Yes, dear. 

Letty. I wanted her to look pretty. I — I wanted the 
major to think she looked pretty. He— he does like her, 
doesn't he. Auntie Dee? 

Miss D. I am sure he does, Letty. 

Letty {softly). You told me about it a long time ago, you 
know. 

Miss D. Yes. I remember. 

Letty. And, Auntie Dee, before I go to-night, I want to 
tell you just one thing. I — I was so little when my mother 
died— I cannot remember her. But I want to tell you. Auntie 
Dee, that I think I must love you as I would have loved a 
mother — if I had one. 

Miss D. {holding Letty 's hand to her breast). You could 
not be dearer to me, Letty, if you were my own child. You 
have brought back my lost youth to me ! 

Girls {calling from outside). Come on, Letty. Hurry up! 



THE MISSION OF LETTY QC 

Letty. In a minute, girls. And, Auntie Dee, I want to 
be with you always — as long as I live ! 

Miss D. {tenderly), I shall stay with you as long as you 
want me, Letty dear. 

Letty. Then that will be always ! 

Miss D. Forever and always I 

{They embrace.) 



CURTAIN 



DEC 6 1913 



New Plays 



THE REBELLION OF MRS. BARCLAY 

A Comedy of Domestic Life 

In Two Acts 

By May E. Countryman 

Three male, six female characters. Costumes modern ; scenery, easy 
interiors. Plays one hour and three quarters. A clever and amusing 
comedy with a very popular cast; all the parts evenly good. There are 
many Mr. Barclays making their homes more or less uncomfortable all 
over this country, and Mrs. Barclay's method of curing her particular one 
will be sympathetically received. Good Irish comedy parts, male and fe- 
male. Strongly recommended. 

Price, 25 cetits 

CHARACTERS 

Morton Barclay. Mrs. Brown, Mortotis sister. 

Roger Stuart, a neighbor. Cora, her daughter. 

Dennis O'Hara, Elsie Stuart, Roger s sister. 

Ethel Barclay, Morton s wife. Mary Ann O'Connor. 
Ruth Carter, Ethel's sister. 

PA'S NEW HOUSEKEEPER 

A Farce in One Act 

By Charles S. Bird 
Three male, two female characters. Modern costumes ; scenery, a 
simple interior or none at all. Plays forty minutes, A roaring farce of 
the "Charley's Aunt" order, admirably suited for high-school perform- 
ance. Jack Brown, visiting his chum, is tempted by his success in college 
theatricals to make up in the character of the new housekeeper, an at- 
tractive widow, who is expected but does not arrive. He takes in every- 
body and mixes things up generally. All the paits are first rate and the 
piece full of laughs and action. Strongly recommended. 
Price, 15 cents 

A PRODIGAL SON 

A Comedy in One Act 

By Rayinond M. Robinson 

Two male, three female characters. Costumes modern; scenery, an 
easy interior. Plays half an hour. A very original and amusing bit of 
fooling, easy to do and sure to please. The leading character is a tramp 
and full of opportunity. Well recommended. 
Price, 15 cents 



New Plays 



LOST— A CHAPERON 

A Comedy in Three Acts 
By Courtney Bruerton and IV. S. Mauhby 

Six male, nine female charactei-s. Costumes modern ; scenery, an in- 
terior and an easy exterior. Plays a full evening. An excellent comedy 
with the true college atmosphere but with its scenes away from actual col- 
lege life. A breezy lot of college girls in camp lose their chaperon for 
twenty-four hours, and are provided by a camp of college boys across the 
lake with plenty of excitement. The parts are all good and of almost 
equal opportunity, the situations are very funny and the lines full of laughs. 
This is sure to be liked by the young people for whom it is intended, and 
is strongly recommended for high-school performance. Price, 2^ cents. 

CHARACTERS 

George Higgins, a lufts A. B. . . . Ernest S. Swenson 

Jack Abbott, ) luf{ ssub-frcshmen,ca7np- Stanley M. Brown 

Fred Lawton, ) mgwith Higgins . . Arthur J. Anderson 

Raymond Fitzhenry, a Harvard student Arthur T. Hale 

Dick Norton, ] ^^ , .,, ,«, .,,,,^, Ernest A. Larrabee 

TOM Crosby, | '-^-^''^^ engineers . . perdinand Bryham 
Marjorie Tyndall, George's cousin: a 

Smith girl Helen J. Martin 

Alice Bennett, "j Dorothy F. Entwistle 

Agnes Arabella Bates, I ^ »„ „ -7, Edith H. Bradford 

Ruth French, f J^'^f'^on girts Marjorie L. Henry 

Blanche Westcott, J Beatrice L. Davis 
Mrs. Higgins, the chaperon. George's 

another Effie M. Ritchie 

Mrs. Sparrow, a farmer s wife. {Not in the original cast.) 

Mandy. \her daughters. 

SYNOPSIS 
Act I.— The Girls' Camp at Sherwood, 7 A. M. 
Act II.— The Fellows' Camp at Sherwood, 8 A. M. 
Act III.— Same as Act I, 10 a. m. 

A BRIDE FROM HOME 

A Vaudeville Sketch in One Act 

By Willis Steell 
Two male, two female characters. Costumes modern ; scene, an in- 
terior. Plays twenty minutes. A capital sketch of Hebrew life and 
character, combining good comedy with genuine pathos. Moves very 
swiftly and is very effective. Can be strongly recommended for either 
vaudeville use or for amateur theatricals. Price, 75 cents. 



RED ACRE FARM 

A Rural Comedy Drama in Three Acts by Gordan V. May. Seven 
males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior, one exte- 
rior. Plays two hours. An easy and entertaining play with a well-bal- 
anced cast of characters. The story is strong and sympathetic and the 
comedy element varied and amusing. Barnaby Strutt is a great part for 
a good comedian ; *« Junior " a close second. Strongly recommended. 
Price^ 2^ cents 

THE COUNTRY MINISTER 

A Comedy Drama in Five Acts by Arthur Lewis Tubbs. Eight males, 
five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery not difficult. Plays a full even- 
ing. A very sympathetic piece, of powerful dramatic interest ; strong and 
varied comedy relieves the serious plot. Ralph Underwood, the minister, 
is a great part, and Roxy a strong soubrette ; all parts are good and full 
of opportunity. Clean, bright and strongly recommended. 
Price^ 2$ cents 

THE COLONEL'S MAID 

A Comedy in Three Acts by C. Leona Dalrymple. Six males, three 
females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays a full even- 
ing. An exceptionally bright and amusing comedy, full of action ; all the 
parts good. Capital Chinese low comedy part ; two first-class old men. 
This is a very exceptional piece and can be strongly recommended. 
Pfice, 2^ cent J 

MOSE 

'■ A Comedy in Three Acts by C. W. Miles, Eleven males, ten females. 
Scenery, two interiors ; costumes, modern. Plays an hour and a half. A 
lively college farce, full of the true college spirit. Its cast is large, but 
many of the parts are small and incidental. Introduces a good deal of 
singing, which will serve to lengthen the performance. Recommended 
highly for co-educational colleges. Price, /j cents 

OUR WIVES 

A Farce in Three Acts by Anthony E. Wills. Seven males, four fe- 
males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours and 
a half. A bustling, up-to-date farce, full of movement and action ; all 
the parts good and effective ; easy to produce; just the thing for an ex- 
perienced amateur club and hard to spoil, even in the hands of less 
practical players. Free for amateur performance. Price, 2j cents 

THE SISTERHOOD OF BRIDGET 

A Farce in Three Acts by Robert Elwin Ford. Seven males, six fe- 
males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, easy interiors. Plays two hours. 
An easy, effective and very humorous piece turning upon the always in- 
teresting servant girl question. A very unusual number of comedy parts; 
all the parts good. Easy to get up and well recommended. Price, 2^ cents 



New Entertainments 



THE TRAMPS' CONVENTION 

An Entertainment in One Scene 

For Male Characters Only 

By Jessie A. Kelley 

Seventeen male characters. Costumes typical tramp dress; scenery, 
unimportant. Plays an hour and a half. An entertainment in the vaude- 
ville class, Hke this author's other pieces, intended for local treatment and 
with possibTlities of unlimited fun under such treatment. Music can be 
introduced, if desired, though this is not necessary or called for. The 
opening is very funny and original and the finish — The Ananias Club — 
can be worked up to any extent. Strongly recommended. 
Price, 25 cents 

CHARACTERS 
Dusty Bob, President of Convention. 
Happy Hooligan, who tells how to deal with the dog. 
Gentleman Jim, who speaks about courts and cops. 
Healthy Tim, a7i applicant for the Ananias Club. 
Sunny Mike, another applicant for the Ananias Club, 
Dirty Joe, who tells jneihodsfor getting food. 
Tired Tim, still another Ananias. 
Frosty Finnegan, atwther applicatii. 
Lazy Logan, too lazy to wink. 

Tattered Ragons, very successful in avoiding work. 
Dusty Rhodes, who cilso wants to Join the Ananias club. 
Hobo Jake, who gives so^ne pointers on the drink question. 
Tramping Muggs, another Ananias. 
Hungry Dan, another applicatit. 

Hatless Hal, the successful competitor for the Ananias Club. 
Frowsy Filthy, who clothes them all. 
The JanitoRc 

THE DAY THAT LINCOLN DIED 

A Play in One Act 
By Prescott War re 71 and Will Hutchins 
Five male, two female characters. Costumes modern ; scene, an easy 
exterior. Plays thirty minutes. A very pretty and effective little play 
admirably suited for a Lincoln Day entertainment. Capable even in un- 
skilled hands of great pathos, it offers plenty of comedy, and is apiece that 
we can heartily recommend. The great personality that it celebrates 
brings out whatever of honesty and sincerity there is in the thing it touches, 
and so it befalls that in this little play the true Lincoln spirit is movingly 
embodied. Professional stage-rights reserved. 
Price, 2S cents 



J\. UJ. Piitero's Plays 

Price, SO KcMts Gacb 

IVIin PHANNFT Pl^y in Four Acts. Six males, five females. 
*"**'"^"'*A^i^'-'" Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. 
Plays two and a half hours. 

THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH £?r'S,^Tt 

males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all interiors. 
Plays a full evening. 

THF PRflFIir'ATF I'layin Four Acts. Seven males, five 
* "*^ * J\V/r LilUM i £• females. Scenery, three interiors, rather 
elaborate ; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THF Qmnni MIQTRFCQ Farce in Three Acts. Nine males, 
in£i 0\^nUUL.lTlli31I\.£:.00 seven females. Costumes, mod- 
ern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. 

THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY Igt'^Sl^ave 

females. Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a 
full evening. 

^WFFT I AVFWnFR Comedyin Three Acts. Seven males, 
uTTEiCil Lii\V£il^I/LilV four females. Scene, a single interior, 
costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

THP THITWriFDRni T Comedy in Four Acts. Ten males, 
llli:i inUllUi:.I\D\/Lil nine females. Scenery, three interi- 
ors; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 

XHF TIIVIF^ Comedy in Four Acts. Six males, seven females. 
**^" * llTlEiiJ ■ Scene. a single interior; costumes, modern. Plays 

a full evening. 

THF WFAITFR QFY Comedy in Three Acts. Eight males, 
111£i Yf i:>/\l\£iIV iJ£iA eight females. Costumes, modern; 
scenery, two interiors. Plays a full evening. 

A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE gr/SiS,f^u^^1lmt;S: 

Costumes, modern ; scene, a single interior. Plays a full evening. 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

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Play in Four Acts. By C. H. Chambers. 

Four males, six females. Scenery, not difti- 
cult, chietly interiors; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. 
Price, 50 Cents. 

THE FRUITS OF ENLIGHTENMENT g.T?/oi"xof t,vX 

one males, eleven females. Scenery, c?^ -'Tacteristic interiors ; cos- 
tumes, modern. Plays a full eveni-g. ^lecommended for reading 
clubs. Price, 35 Cents. 

Farce in Three Acts. By 
li. Marshall. Ten 

males, three females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior. 

Acting rights reserved. Time, a full evening. Price, 50 Cents. 

Comedy in Four Acts. By Oscar Wilde. 

Nine males, six females. Costumes, mod- 
ern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. Acting rights 
reserved. Sold for reading. Price, 50 Cents. 

TBE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST I?[r i" SsJil 

Wilde. Five males, four females. Costumes, modern ; scenes, two 
interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. Acting rights re- 
served. Price, 50 Cents. 

LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN ^r.^'!^' %I?S tSL,''i?f 1"^ 

males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full 
evening. Acting rights reserved. Price, 50 Cents. 

NATHAN HAI F Play in Four Acts. By Clyde Fitch. Fifteen 
llAllIAli llALl) iiiaies, four females. Costumes of the eighteenth 
century in America. Scenery, four interiors and two exteriors. Act- 
ing rights rt:'served. Plays a full evening. Price, 50 Cents. 

Comedy in Three Acts. By M. B. Horne. 

Six males, four females. Scenery, two 
interiors ; costumes, modern. Professional stage rights reserved. 
Plays a full evening. Price, 50 Cents. 

Comedy in Four Acts. By C. H. 

Chambers. Four males, three fe- 
males. Scenery, an interior and on exterior; costumes, modern. 
Acting rights reserved. Plays a lull evening. Price, 50 Cents. 

Comedy in Four Acts. By 
OscakWilde. Eight males, 
seven females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors and an 
exterior. Plays a full evening. Stage rights reserved. Offered for 
reading only. " Price, 50 Cents. 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Walttt B. I3a6er & Company 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



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